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I have heard that expression many times throughout my 34
years of life.Growing up we tended to
always have a neighbor or friend that ate dinner with us.My parents were extremely disciplined in
making sure that the 4 of us always ate dinner at home and that it was 9 times
out of 10 something homemade.They both
worked full time so this dinnertime was sacred.Nevertheless, while they never waivered in making sure my sister and I
were both present, they always left the door open for anyone else to join us,
which was very often the case.

“Scoot over.Move
your chair.Make some room at the
table.”

Thankfully, this is something that Hubs and I have tried to
practice too since being married.We
want friends, neighbors, family, and even strangers alike to feel welcome in
our home and for there always to be extra room at the table.Most often that “table” is the kitchen
island, and we are all smashed together like sardines around it, while our very
large dining room table sits empty, but we are together, we are all making room
for one another around it.

I remember about a year ago, though, we had been invited to
have dinner with a couple that I didn’t know so well.They had known my husband for quite some time
and had reconnected with him recently and as a result invited us over for
dinner.On the way, Hubs shared a little
bit of their story and that they had, to a certain extent, been ostracized
because of some decisions/mistakes (depends on who you ask) they had made in
the past.

We had a lovely dinner and time in their home, but as we
drove away from their house that night, I said to my husband, “Promise me that
everyone will always be welcome at our table.Let’s right now make the commitment that no matter the circumstances or
past that we will always make room at our table.”

And that’s how it began.This new commitment meant that we also had to mend some bridges.We along the way had maybe shut some doors on
some relationships because of disagreements or just not seeing eye to eye on
lifestyles.But, we started reaching out
and starting making room at the table.

Because we believed deep in our hearts that no matter the
circumstances there is always room at the table.We don’t have to always agree.We don’t always have to have perfect
relationships.But, we must always make
room at our table.

I am guessing by this time everyone living in the United
States at least has read or heard about the huge Women’s March that took place
on Saturday.Truthfully, I didn’t know a
whole lot about it until my Facebook feed filled up with commentary regarding it.I have a very diverse friend’s group on
Facebook, so that meant that I had everything from “This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I am embarrassed
to be associated with these women!” to “Rock
on!Girl power!Feeling proud to stand with such brave and
mighty women!” to “What the heck is
this Women’s March.I have no idea what
they are even marching for.”

However, as time has continued to go on, I feel like the
hostility towards the 2 sides has only gotten worse.On my Facebook feed at least, it has looked
quite ugly at times.I wanted to write a
post about why I think each side has some valid points, but after some pretty
ugly interactions on Facebook towards the end of last year, I decided that I am
not going to engage in conversations on social media that are meant for tables,
front porches, or coffee dates.Most
issues are complex and when they involve real life people with deep feelings or
convictions one way or another, they are even more difficult.So, for those that are looking for me to make
a declaration one way or another, it isn’t going to happen…or it isn’t going to
happen on here anyway. Invite me to your table or front porch, and that is a
whole other story.

What I felt convicted to do here today, though, was just to ask…to
plead actually with both sides to stop, take a deep breath, and try and see
things from a little bit of a different perspective.I feel as if we are at a time and place in
history where we feel pressure to “pick a side” or “join a team.” We are pro-woman
or pro-life.We are democrat or we are
republican.We are against Trump or we
are with Trump.We are with “Black
Lives Matter” or we are with “Blue Lives Matter.”

And the list goes on.The lines have been drawn, and we are feeling the pressure to pick a
side.

I want to propose a different way.

Make more room at the table.

Because at the table,
I believe that it is possible to care less about a side and more about the
person actually sitting at the table with us, even when that means we don’t
agree.I believe that at the table we
can find more of a middle ground instead of two distinct sides.We can break bread and look each other in the
eye instead of reading words behind a computer screen.

I remember when I started working in Guatemala and started
really becoming exposed to the realities of what life in this country looked
like for most people, I was not only brokenhearted but on some level, I think I
was even disgusted by it.Abuse was so
prevalent and most especially sexual abuse.It was not uncommon to hear of mothers selling their daughters to men
for sex or father’s picking one of their daughters to be “his.” I heard of
mother’s knowingly staying with men that were consistently molesting and
abusing their daughters or even sons.The stories were relentless and horrendous.I judged these mothers so harshly.I felt like they didn’t deserve to be
mothers.

But over time, I have come to see that the issue isn’t as
black and white as I wanted to believe it was.More times than not, these mothers are women that grew up being sexually
abused themselves.Many times they are
uneducated and would be living on the streets if it weren’t for the abuser in
which they are living with.Often they
are struggling with addiction because they were either exposed to or forced to
participate in doing drugs or drinking at an age that they should have still
been playing with dolls.

Bottom line is I came to realize that I was judging
something I had never known.I can
absolutely take a stance against sexual abuse.I can absolutely fight against it, and I should be fighting against
it!But that doesn’t mean that I have to
take a hard line against these mothers too.I can be for the mother and also for the child.And, in fact, I believe I SHOULD be for the
mother and the child.Because whose to
say if I hadn’t grown up in a home that was filled with love and always made me
feel safe, that I too wouldn’t have been involved in many of these same
situations?Whose to say that I would be
parenting well my children right now if I had grown up being sexually abused
daily by people who were meant to protect me and was being forced to consume
things that are not good for adults let alone young children?

I want to caution us
all from making hard lines against every issue or agenda or topic that has its
turn in the spotlight.Because behind
every one of these issues or agendas or topics are real life people.People that have different experiences than
us.People that have walked different
paths than us.People that have been
exposed to different things than us.People who might not be just like us.

I am not asking you to change your position.There are many issues out there that no
matter how many conversations I have, my position isn’t going to change.But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room
at my table for someone that doesn’t think just like me or believe just like
me.In fact, I would propose that more
often than not, my table SHOULD include those that aren’t just like me.

Last week, God led me to these verses again, and to be
honest, they have almost haunted me since reading them.I read them originally in the English
Standard Version, but there is something so poetic about the version found in
The Message that I felt for emphasis here, I wanted to use that version today.Obviously this is not the most accurate
translation, but I think there is beauty to be found in this paraphrased
version as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

“I don’t think,
friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to
happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be
posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more
than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently,
congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it
easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and
inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

But friends, you’re not in the dark,
so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open
skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those
others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get
drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re
creatures of Day, let’s act like it.Walk out into the daylight sober,
dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

God didn’t set us
up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He
died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living
or asleep with the dead, we’re alive
with him! So speak encouraging words to
one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out,
no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.”

Friends, if we belong to Christ, we are called to be
light.And just as the first thing I do
when one my children awakes during the night and calls out for me is to bring
light to them, to show them they are safe and secure, we are called to bring
that kind of light into the darkness.We are called to BE that light in the
darkness.The day of the Lord is
coming.It is coming.Let’s not be so consumed with agendas and
issues that we forget that He is coming, and we don’t want to see anyone left
behind.

Start making room at your tables.Start building bridges instead of walls.Start listening and stop talking.We absolutely must maintain a posture of
obedience before the Lord.We must
choose holiness and righteousness. I am not asking you to accept sin or to
become willy-nilly with your beliefs and convictions.I am just saying that we should not be afraid
of the dark.We are the light.Our light shines the brightest in
darkness.But if we are too afraid to
even go into the darkness, then our light will never really be seen.

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Some bits and bobbits about this blog...

This blog is mostly just ramblings by yours truly. I talk about my ups and downs being a wife, mother, and missionary in Guatemala. I have a tendency to get off on "soapboxes" as those who love me say but it is my desire that this blog can be a place of encouragement in each of your pilgrimages with Christ. At any moment if this blog becomes more about me than about Christ, than it will be done and over...so please help me stay accountable. To God be all the Glory, Honor, and Power!